5 Times Prince William Broke Protocol and Faced No Consequences

Prince William, as the heir to the throne, is expected to follow the traditions upheld by the Royal Family to the letter. But even the future King has had his moments, breaking a few royal protocols along the way. What makes them interesting is that William seemingly faced little to no consequences for doing so.

During William and Kate’s 2016 tour of India and Bhutan, the couple kept things noticeably more relaxed when it came to their wardrobe. His laid-back look drew some criticism, especially since royals are expected to dress a little more formally when representing the Crown overseas. GQ said, “It's as if he's packed in a hurry: why else would he be forced into wearing a business-staple navy suit with a white shirt and contrasting tie on the royal couple's visit to Bhutan?” Moreover, Kate and William were also a little more affectionate than usual, as royals are expected to keep PDA to a minimum and maintain a professional image during official outings. Still, despite it all, William faced no apparent consequences and carried on with the tour as planned.

William may have been at Wimbledon as a royal, but that did not stop him from letting his emotions get the better of him. During Cameron Norrie’s 2022 quarter-final against David Goffin, the Prince appeared to swear after a frustrating point, Marie Claire reported. It was hardly the polished image expected from a future King, particularly at such a high-profile event, but the moment quickly passed, and William continued watching the match.

William has also been willing to bend the long-standing royal convention of keeping heirs on separate aircraft, which even he had to follow when he turned 12. However, the future King and Kate have travelled with George, Charlotte, and Louis on the same flights, despite the tradition being intended to protect the line of succession in case of an accident. The family has been allowed to travel together in the past, but the decision has still raised eyebrows, given that it risks plunging the monarchy into a crisis.

When William became Prince of Wales in 2022, he chose not to follow the tradition of holding a grand investiture ceremony. The event had been used for previous Princes of Wales, including his father, King Charles, whose 1969 ceremony was filled with elaborate royal pageantry. William instead opted for a much quieter approach, focusing on meeting people and building ties in Wales. It was a clear break from tradition, but the decision was accepted without any apparent fuss.

William spoke quite openly about his childhood during his 2025 interview with Eugene Levy. He talked about his parents’ divorce and the lack of security and safety he had to grow up with. He added that he and Kate are trying not to make the same mistakes their parents made. He said, “Growing up, I saw that with my parents. The media was so insatiable back then… If you let that creep in, the damage it can do to your family life is something that I vowed would never happen to my family.” While he didn't openly criticize the King, the remark was seen as a disapproval of his parenting. Meanwhile, Harry’s comments about his childhood were met with palace allies pushing back against his claims when Spare was released. William did not face anything similar and has continued opening up through podcasts and interviews since then.